Pleasant, mild weekend ahead of major warm-up that could bring 90-degree temps

Whether you're headed to the beach or a local park, it's a great weekend to get outside with low humidity and comfortable temps.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Apr 1 — Updated 10:50 a.m. Today

WRAL Severe Weather Center

RALEIGH, N.C. — Saturday will be pleasant, mild and cloudy with a high of 74 degrees.

Whether you're headed to the beach or a local park, it's a great weekend to get outside with low humidity and comfortable temps.

Take the kids to the park or head over to the WRAL Azalea Gardens. There are plenty of restaurants in Raleigh with outdoor dining.

Sunday will be sunnier and warmer, reaching the lower 80s.

Enjoy the mild temps while you can because a warm-up is on the way, bringing temperatures as high as 90 degrees in the upcoming week.

Saturday: Partly cloudy skies, Highs in the mid 70s.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High of 82.
Monday: A mainly sunny sky. Very warm. High 86.

Record heat possible next week

The end of April and beginning of May will be hot, with record heat possible on Tuesday. Highs could reach 90 degrees for the first time this year and possibly break a record.

Temperatures will stay in the 80s for most of next week. It'll be a great week to get outside! Our only potential rain chances would be Tuesday and Tuesday night of next week with some isolated showers possible.

With all this warm weather, the flowers and trees are blooming – meaning pollen counts are high. If you're sneezing, spring allergies could be to blame.

7-day forecast for central NC

Saturday: Partly to mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
Sunday: Cloudy and warm with highs in the low 80s.
Monday: Clear skies and warmer. High of 86.
Tuesday: Sunshine and some clouds. High 88.
Wednesday: A few passing clouds, otherwise generally sunny. High 87.
Thursday: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 79.

Prepare for a busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will see 15 to 20 named storms in the Atlantic basin, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.

The number of named storms is significantly higher than the long-term average, and moderately higher than recent 30-year averages, according to Lian Xie, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at NC State.

In 2024, NC State researchers predict:

15 to named storms
10 to 12 may grow strong enough to become hurricanes (the historical average is six)
Three to four becoming major hurricanes

NC State researchers predict active Atlantic hurricane season with 15-20 named storms

Meanwhile, forecasters at Colorado State University are calling for 24 named storms in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. That is higher than the average year, when 14 storms earn a name.

CSU forecasters say 11 storms will reach hurricane strength, up from the average of seven, and five of those hurricanes could be "major," that is Category 3, 4 or 5, with winds over 111 mph.